Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

There are an estimated two million single parents in the UK, raising their children in a variety of situations:  alone, co-parenting with an estranged partner, or in the middle of a legal battle. Our church family can best enjoy their company by becoming their extended family, and offering them companionship, care and skill support. One...

No doubt you are beginning to look forward to your summer holidays. Just think about it – sun, sea and sand, time to relax and unwind, no deadlines to meet, no responsibilities to shoulder . . . ah, bliss! We are fortunate to live at a time when workers are encouraged to take time off...

The Ugandan Church had dozens of martyrs within just ten years of Christianity arriving there.   At first, it had gone so well:  the first Anglican missionaries arriving in Uganda in 1877 were welcomed by the Kabaka (king) of Buganda, Mutesa.  Mutesa also welcomed the Roman Catholics and Muslim Arabs, and, being a natural diplomat, retained...

Sunshine glinting off a reflective object in your home can be enough to set your house on fire. So warns various fire services up and down the country, from Staffordshire to Dorset. As one expert from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue stresses: “Always keep reflective items such as mirrors, glass and crystal ornaments away from direct...

I have a great love for the Bible, especially the stories of men and women who lived their lives by faith. Not only did they display great trust in God, but also great resilience, often keeping going in the face of great adversity. Nehemiah is such a person. His great achievement was to take a...

If you are going to Cornwall this summer in search of peace and quiet, Petroc is the saint for you.   Especially if you find Padstow a bit too crowded for your liking!  He would have sympathised. This 6th century abbot is Cornwall’s most famous saint.  Petroc set sail from South Wales, landed at Haylemouth, and...

British families should do what families in southern Europe do – take the extended family on holiday, especially the grandparents, and include them more into their daily lives. So urges Mims Davies, the Minister for Sport.  She says that when visiting some of Europe’s beaches, “you will find this huge, wonderful plethora of people on...

If you choose Brittany for your holiday destination this summer, then spare a thought for Gudwal, because this obscure 6th century Celtic abbot got there before you did.  Indeed, Gudwal seems to have liked Brittany so much that he decided to stay on. When you visit Brittany today, you will find Catholic churches everywhere.  Not...

Worldwide, the news is not good: seven million people die of air pollution each year.  Here in the UK, there are at least some simple steps you can take: Leave the car when you can:  there is actually less pollution walking or cycling along a busy street than going in a car.  Larissa Lockwood, head...

Have you ever been the victim of someone else’s malice and ambition?  Then William of York (d 1154) is the saint for you.  William Fitzherbert was born into a noble family, with royal connections.  He was also smart – appointed treasurer of York at a young age, and also as a chaplain to King Stephen. ...

Summer is upon us.  The sun needs to be taken seriously. Here are some useful tips: NEVER leave your pet alone in the car, even with the windows down. Sunlight sets car temperatures soaring in a matter of minutes.  Your pet will collapse from heatstroke. On hot days, make sure your pets have regular access...

What makes – or breaks – a relationship?  Behavioural psychologists say that asking just five questions can help you quickly get to the heart of another person. Question number one is ‘How did you vote on Brexit?’ As one psychologist said, though the question may spark ‘fireworks’, is it vital.  “Our political views communicate our...